16 Aug Foobooz: Federal Distilling Room Now Open in Kensington

Team behind Stateside Urbancraft Vodka opens a bar.

Philadelphia’s Kensington neighborhood becomes more of a destination for distilling fans with the opening of the Federal Distilling Room at 1700 North Hancock Street. The bar connects to Federal Distilling’s distillery and serves the distillery’s flagship Stateside Vodka in addition to a wide variety of other spirits, wine and beer.

Founders Matt and Bryan Quigley have gone with a full bar over just a tasting room in order to cater to a wider audience. Even three years in, the brothers haven’t been able to convert their mother from wine to vodka.

The bar features signature cocktails made with Stateside vodka plus other spirits, wine and beer from around the neighborhood and the world. It might surprise some to see bigger brands like Bulleit, Jack Daniels and Macallan Whisky on the back bar but it is all part of the Quigleys vision to make the bar a gathering point for a wide swath of people.

In addition to the alcohol, a tight menu of hot dogs, roast beef sandwiches, salads and Good Spoon chili is served.

The highlight of the large room is the looming Stateside name in white lights above the bar and in front of a whitewashed back bar featuring the clear bottles of Stateside vodka. The bar looks across a glass wall and into the functioning distillery. Tours are available Thursdays and Fridays at 6 p.m. and on Saturdays 1, 3 and 5 p.m.

The FDR bar is open Thursdays and Fridays from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturdays from noon to 10 p.m.

As for the vodka, the filtration system is key in creating a clean taste. Then electrolytes and minerals are added back in, similar to SmartWater. The result is a clean vodka with a tinge of sweetness and earthiness from the minerals.